Thierry Henry Vs Lionel Messi

Is Lionel Messi Really THAT MUCH Better Than Henry?

I dare say henry was a much more complete footballer, and if he would have played for barcelona at the age that messi is in right now i think hed score as many goals and maybe more.

we all know there is still much more to watch of lionel messi but..

lets compare them by what we have seen so far.

thierry henry had the following goals and assists count when at arsenal and barcelona

Thierry Henry

1999-00 26 11
2000–01 22 3
2001–02 32 7
2002–03 32 24
2003–04 39 14
2004–05 30 17
2005–06 33 9
2006–07 12 7
2007–08 19 11
2008–09 26 12


While Lionel has a record of

16 13
38 18
47 11
53 24

in his past 4 seasons.


by the looks of it henry has a less impressive record when at goals and even at assists but whats to say he wouldnt do that at a young age in the current barcelona? now thats all hypothetical and maybe irrelevent but the point is, numbers dont tell everything but do help you make conclusions.

thierry henry was very complete player i dare say he was faster and stronger than lionel messi at his prime and he had a better touch and striker to the ball, he could come up with headers, free kicks, screamers, volleys that messi can not do as well.

thierry henry is also the top scorer in the french national team's history while lionel messi has not even come close to having such a great part in argentina's fortunes. of course the teams them selves are different, but the fact that he did so well individually tells something.

henry is a world cup winner, euro cup winner, cl winner, he has one of the most complete careers in history, yet no one jumps the boat and calls him an even top 10 footballing great when every jumps to conclusions with messi...

messi at 24 still has alot to give, but his numbers dont tell all. cristiano ronaldo has similar scoring and assists records but just because he scored 53 and henry didnt doesnt make him better right?

and henry played in different clubs and different leagues an even at age 31-32 managed to score a healthy 26 goals with barcelona..

so my question is, is lionel messi even better than henry? because just by asking this, many people will try to put a knife in my neck but why not look at many different factors.. why isnt henry as highly rated as messi is...

some might consider messi to be overated as SUICIDAL of a statement in such a forum would seem, to place him higher than many all time greats just because he can dribble alot and score alot...


is henry quite possibly one of the most underated players of all time considering the logic given to messi.

messi has scored against many great teams and has showed his worth as his young age but im just saying...

they are both great players but why immedatley put one over the other? could you imagine messi beat so many records and la la la in the rough premier league, score 53 goals and be hailed as a god automatically?


look at the players well and judge who you think is more complete..

dont only concentrate on the numbers, ozil had more goals and assists than both xavi and iniesta put together i think but that doesnt mean hes 2 times the players they are... dont let 53 goals or anything fool you into just picking something without thinking.

im not discrediting messi, most definatley not, hes very efficient for a system that he fits in very well but we look at guys like ronaldo el fenomeno or thierry henry who had a much wider array of abilities and make extend that exponentially if they were as in good as a system as messi is...

i really doubt one can make the statement that they wouldnt to as well as messi, henry and ronaldo were so strong and fast, i see them doing alot of things that messi just cant, and i guess one of the arguments im also trying to make is, why lionel messi so overated in that many say that hes already the greatest of all time? he deserves enormous credit but not as much as some give him and dispatch others with.

people have different tastes, but i personally think lionel messi is probably in the most user friendly system a player has ever found himself in and i think that makes him look better than he is. as bold,unusual, and #q@#@ as that may sound.

wev had this thread before and Henry won

Henry would be the first to admit he's better.

Henry

T.Henry no doubt.

Trying to hide the hate through a long essay of a post?

Messi makes Barcelona, not the other way around.

We've already had this thread. Both are Gods, but I have a massive Henry bias.

Henry is better